The number of children being home-educated in England has risen by 20% this year according to the most recent government figures.
The Education Policy Institute warned that up to 300,000 children may be missing from education entirely.
“I have called on successive governments to introduce a unique identifying number for children and a register of all children not in school,” Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza says.
“Writing these two landmark measures into law will be of huge significance for any child currently at risk of harm in this country – it must now be supported by proper data-sharing between organisations so no child can become invisible in the system.”
Th general secretary at the school leaders’ union NAHT, Paul Whiteman, also welcomed the bill, saying they had “long called for a register of pupils who are not in school” and “it is very positive to see that this important safeguarding measure is finally being taken after years of delay”.
The government says protecting children at risk of abuse and stopping vulnerable children falling through the cracks is at the heart of the bill.
First unveiled in the King’s Speech, the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill is wide ranging, also including free breakfast clubs in all primary schools and legislation to limit branded uniform items.
